Affidavit of Small Estate
Affidavit For Transfer of Personal Property Worth $150,000 or Less
NOTE: This process is not for real property, like a house.
Figuring out if the estate is worth $150,000 or less
To calculate the value of the estate:
Include:
- All real and personal property.
- All life insurance or retirement benefits that will be paid to the estate (but not any insurance or retirement benefits designated to be paid to some other person).
Figuring Out if You Have the Legal Right to Inherit the Property
You can use the affidavit process if you have the legal right to inherit property from the person who died.
You must be a beneficiary in the person’s will or an heir if the person died without a will. Other people may qualify too, like the guardian or conservator of the estate.
It can be very complicated to figure out if you have the legal right to inherit the property. If there is no valid will, the law says how to determine if someone is a legal “heir” by looking at the type of property, the relationship between all the persons claiming to be heirs, and other issues.
Using the Affidavit to Transfer Personal Property
Once you know the value of the property is $150,000 or less and you personally qualify to use the affidavit process, follow these instructions. But keep in mind you must wait at least 40 days after the person dies to transfer the personal property. And, remember, you cannot use this affidavit process to transfer real property like land or buildings.
